The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-16
HOW THE STORY STARTED.
Why JEFF Davis Believed an Ex-Convict Was
to Assassinate Him.

to Assassinate Him.
Wilkesbarre Pal Special New York World
The story recently told by Jefferson Davis to
an interviewer, to the effect that Governor Cur
tin released a noted desperate from the Penn
sylvania penitentiary during the and paid
him large sum to 60 South and assassinate tho
President of the Confederacy. doubtless was boz
lieved to be true by Mr. Davis. because it really
had apparent foundation in fact The story
is curious one, and, while of course there never
was any GOOD ground for Mr.. Daviss belief in
the intended assassination, several citizens Of
Wilkesbarre distinctly recall the fact that it
was entertained even in this neighborhood. and
by men of more than ordinary intelligence. too
men who preferred disunion to union. and who
believed such things chiefly because they wanted
to believe badly of the then authorities in the
North.
The story is of an almost successful attempt
to escape from prison which is perhaps without
parallel in our history. James Buchanan Crosse
was notorious forger. serving term OF five
years in the Eastern Penitentiary Of this State.
William Millward was the United States mar
shall at Philadelphia. where the penitentiary Is
located Under date of June l. 1882 Millward
received a letter purporting to come from the
War Department at Washington and to be
signed by P. II. Watson. then one Of the Assist
ant Secretaries of War. in these Words
stSIR-The Secretary of War directs me to
advise you, after the receipt of dispatch from
the headquarters OF the army to this depart
ment with an urgent request that an immedi-
ate effort be made to send to that point the
somewhat notorious forger, j. Buchanan Crosse,
now inmate of your State prison. and to in
struct you to proceed to Harrisburg for the pur-
pose of making special application to the
f1y nrA 70 hi, 49, y ID
city with the least possible delay. You will
please communicate the contents of this note to
United States District Attorney Coffee, Collect
or Thomas. and Postmaster Waldorf and re-
quest them to append their names, with your
own, to the petition Enclosed, which. with copy
of record OF sentence, il is presumed will be suf
fcient as this department has addressed a note
to Governor Curtin requesting his favorable con-
sideration of the same.
..Crosse is to be sent over the lines for spe-
cifc purpose with telegraph operator now in
waiting at headquarters, and as the service will
be attended with much personal peril. the Secre-
tary Of War is DESTROYS that no publicity be
given the fact that the application for mis- re-.
lease emanated from this department., the knowl-
edge of which, in case of accident. might be fatal
to him and defeat the purposes of his mission
You will therefore observe at glance the
propriety of avoiding any explanations whatever
to the local authorities and prison officials, or
even to Crosse himself until he reaches this
point"
About the same time--under in fact, the same
date-Governor Curtin received letter also,
purporting to come from the War Department
and to be signed by Watson, as follows:
.Sir-The Secretary of War directs mo to in
form your Excellency of the receipt of dispatch
from the headquarters of the army urgently de-
string this department. to procure the release of
one j. Buchanan Crosse, an inmate of your State
prison at Philadelphia, and to forward him to
that point at once.
Instructions have this day been forwarded to
the United States marshal at Philadelphia to
personally wait upon your Excellency. with q
formal application for his enlargement
1.-THE Secretary of War feels very we'll assured
that your well-known zeal in our common cause
will lead to cheerful compliance.
Crosse is to be sent over the lines for spe-
cifc purpose, in connection with his brother and
company of telegraph operators. now waiting
at headquarters, where his peculiar talents will
render a valuable service.
1.-THE Secretary of War presumes that your
Excellency will see the propriety of withholding
from the public the fact that this department.
has applied for his release"
Aillward believed the letter to him to be genu-
me- and secured the signatures of Geo. A. Coffey.
United States attorney for the Eastern district
of Pennsylvania and VIM. B. Thompson, col
lector, to a petition to the Governor representing
that good cause exists why the said Crosse
should be released. and that we induced to
make this application the grounds of public
expediency and public Justice"
Armed with this petition Millward went to Har-
risburg, and the pardon was actually secured
and Crosse was placed in the marshal's custody,
but before he was given his release it was dis
covered that both the letters from the War De-
partment were forgeries. when the pardon was
revoked and he was reincarcerated Afterwards
Crosse actually had himself taken before the
court a writ of habeas corpus, where his at
torneys pleaded for him that the pardon having
once been issued. no matter what misrepre-
sensations, could not be legally recalled and
that Crosse was therefore entitled to his liberty
The and the opinion of the court. which is
full of interest will be found reported in Penn
sylvania State Reports, Wright
1t will be seen from the foregoing that while
Crosse did not actually get out the story did and
it was easy to some people, with their then SYM
pathies to build upon it until it took on the
proportions it bore when it reached Mr.. Davis in
the letters from his Northern friend That Mr.
Davis believed it is not perhaps surprising,
when the intensity of tho feeling that at the
time divided the sections is recalled.